“Never Give Up”: Logan Corteux, a Section V Student Athlete Who's Wheelchair Bound, Wins Two First Place Medals at the NYS Track & Field Championship

June 15, 2022 - It's the goal thousands of student athletes work hard to achieve every year, to be crowned a state champion. Red Creek sophomore Logan Corteux earned not one, but two first place medals at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 10^th.

Logan’s journey was much different than other track and field student-athletes. Logan is wheelchair bound. In fact, he was the only student athlete in Section V who uses a wheelchair.

Logan’s love for track and field started about three years ago.

“I was speaking with Logan one day and he said to me he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to do anything being a wheelchair,” said Michelle Stagles, Logan’s guardian. That’s when she showed Logan videos of wheelchair-bound athletes competing in track and field events. “I think that’s when he realized, ‘you know what, I can do that.’”

Logan approached Red Creek Track and Field Coach Dave Briggs and asked if he could be a part of the team. Briggs and the team welcomed him with open arms.

Fast forward to 2022. “He came to me and asked if he’d ever be able to compete at the championship level,” Briggs said. “With him being in a wheelchair… we had to think outside the box.”

“Coach Briggs just told me the qualifications I needed to meet, and I just started working towards them,” said Logan.

To go to the State Championship, Logan had to beat 29.0 seconds to qualify for the 100m race. For the shot put, he needed to throw it nine feet. He ended up qualifying for both. Logan was the only boy wheelchair-bound student athlete to qualify for states.

“I don’t think he initially realized how big of a deal going to divisional, going to sectionals and going to states was for him, being the only wheelchair athlete in all of Section V,” said Marcia Slocum, Red Creek High School employee. “Now it’s hitting him that he’s doing something really special, something groundbreaking, and I think that’s made him work even harder.”

Logan’s inspirational story has been spreading across the region. While on a field trip back in May, a student-athlete from another school recognized him. The student walked up to Logan, shook his hand, and said he’s excited to watch him at the meet and wished him luck. 

“The kid’s amazing,” Briggs said. “The wheelchair doesn’t define him, his characteristics that he shows us every day define him.”

Logan earned the title of New York State Champion in both the boy’s wheelchair 100-meter race and shot put. He also shattered his personal record in the 100, finishing in 27.1 seconds.

“Don’t let the fear take over you,” said Logan. “Just keep doing what you do and never give up, because there’s always a chance.”